Education (Teachers)

died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 440: Authorizing a special education pilot program that provides provisional accreditation to a private entity for the purpose of operating a special education teacher training program, allowing such entity to collect data from such program and providing requirements for full accreditation of such program.

SB 440 creates a two-year pilot program allowing private entities to operate special education teacher training programs with temporary (provisional) state accreditation. This directly affects private organizations seeking to train special education teachers, requiring them to provide high-quality instruction to bachelor's degree holders pursuing licensure. The bill permits these entities to collect program data during the pilot and outlines a clear path to apply for full accreditation under existing state law after the pilot concludes. It does not change current licensure requirements but establishes a new pathway for private providers to enter the teacher training system.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAuthorizes private special education teacher training pilot with quality standards, expanding educator preparation pathways and supporting teacher development in special education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2762: Modifying the crime of unlawful sexual relations to describe who is a person in a position of authority for a school.

HB 2762 amends Kansas law to explicitly include teachers as "a person in a position of authority for a school" under the crime of unlawful sexual relations. This change directly affects teachers and students enrolled at their school, making it illegal for teachers to engage in sexual activity with students aged 16 or older while employed at that school. The bill adds this specific scenario to the existing list of prohibited relationships (like those involving correctional staff or law enforcement), clarifying that the law applies when the teacher has authority over the student. The amendment does not change penalty levels but ensures teachers are covered under the same felony provisions as other authority figures in similar settings.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeBill strengthens criminal justice by explicitly including teachers as authority figures in unlawful sexual relations law, protecting students and enhancing accountability for abuse.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly protects students by criminalizing teacher-student relationships in school settings, strengthening safety protocols for K-12 educational environments.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Teachers

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 517: Expanding the every child can read act reporting requirements and amending the Kansas blueprint for literacy to provide certain requirements for the state board of education, the state board of regents and school districts with regard to literacy education and reporting.

SB 517 expands Kansas' "Every Child Can Read Act" by requiring school districts to create individual literacy plans for high-risk students (kindergarten through third grade) and employ reading specialists. It mandates detailed annual reporting on student reading proficiency, screening data, and intervention outcomes to the state education department, including metrics for all student subgroups. The bill also aligns literacy goals with state assessment scores, requires teacher training in literacy practicums, and updates the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy to include new standards for educator preparation. These changes directly affect school districts, teachers, and students, focusing on early literacy intervention and accountability.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands literacy requirements with mandatory student plans, reading specialists, and detailed reporting to strengthen K-3 literacy outcomes per bill summary.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers Testing & Assessment

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 491: Enacting the Haylee Weissenbach protecting students act to establish the office of education inspector general, authorize the education inspector general to conduct audits, investigations and reviews of educational institutions, require reporting of suspected professional and criminal misconduct by school employees and agents, require certain individuals to register on an educator misconduct registry, require criminal history record checks of school employees and agents and provide for civil penalties for violations of this act.

SB 491, the Haylee Weissenbach Protecting Students Act, creates an independent Office of Education Inspector General in Kansas to oversee K-12 schools (including public, charter, and nonpublic institutions). It requires schools to report suspected professional or criminal misconduct by employees or agents (like volunteers or contractors), mandates criminal background checks for all school staff, and establishes an educator misconduct registry for individuals posing risks to students. The bill also requires schools to conduct audits and investigations into misconduct, prohibits retaliation against those reporting issues, and imposes civil penalties for noncompliance. These provisions directly affect all Kansas school districts, nonpublic schools, and their employees or contracted service providers.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Office of Education Inspector General to protect students via misconduct reporting, background checks, and registry, directly advancing student safety in K-12 education.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2660: Making and concerning appropriations for the state board of regents for the Kansas blueprint for literacy, expanding the every child can read act reporting requirements and amending the Kansas blueprint for literacy to provide certain requirements for the state board of education, the state board of regents and school districts with regard to literacy education and reporting.

HB 2660 appropriates $8.6 million for the Kansas Blueprint for Literacy through fiscal year 2027, requiring the state board of regents to use these funds in alignment with the blueprint's strategic plan. The bill expands reporting requirements under the "Every Child Can Read Act," mandating school districts to track high-risk students, develop individual literacy plans for those at risk, and report on interventions and outcomes annually. It also requires the state board of education to designate evidence-based literacy practices, include a literacy practicum in teacher licensure, and develop a comprehensive literacy implementation plan for school districts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAppropriates $8.6M for literacy education program, directly funding state initiative under budget management per bill's fiscal provisions.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $8.6M for literacy programs, mandates tracking at-risk students and annual reporting to improve literacy outcomes per Kansas Blueprint.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2576: Establishing Erin's law to require school districts to provide a training and age-appropriate student instruction on the identification and reporting of signs of child sexual abuse.

HB 2576, known as Erin's Law, requires Kansas school districts to implement annual teacher training and age-appropriate student instruction on identifying and reporting child sexual abuse starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The law mandates that all teachers receive training covering prevention, identifying abuse signs, and reporting procedures, while all K-12 students must receive age-appropriate instruction on recognizing abuse and knowing how to report it, including resources for support. Parents or guardians may opt their children out of the student instruction. The training and instruction may use resources like the Erin's Law Foundation curriculum or other approved materials.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-12 curriculum changes and teacher training on child abuse prevention, enhancing student safety education within school programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 383: Adding certain third parties who contract with school districts to the definition of special teacher and authorizing special education state aid reimbursement for qualified teachers who provide approved special education or related services to students with an IEP administered by such school district pursuant to a contract.

SB 383 expands the definition of "special teacher" in Kansas law to include qualified third-party providers contracted by school districts to deliver special education or related services. This change allows school districts to seek state aid reimbursement for services provided by these contracted providers to students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). The bill amends statutes K.S.A. 72-3404 and 72-3422 to formally include these external service providers within the reimbursement framework. It directly affects school districts, contracted special education providers, and students with IEPs receiving services under such agreements. The policy change specifically enables state funding for contracted services that previously did not qualify for reimbursement under the existing definition.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands state aid reimbursement for contracted special ed providers, enabling school districts to access more funding for IEP services and increasing access to special education resources.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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died · Kansas · House Apr 10, 2026

HB 2565: Requiring that employees of the Kansas state school for the blind and the Kansas state school for the deaf be paid at same rate of compensation that is paid to a teacher employed by USD 233, Olathe, in the current school year.

HB 2565 requires employees at the Kansas State School for the Blind and Kansas State School for the Deaf (including teachers and licensed personnel like counselors and nurses) to be paid the same rate as teachers in Olathe Unified School District 233 (USD 233) with comparable education and experience. The bill mandates that pay be set based on USD 233's current school-year salary rates for similar roles, using September 1 rates from the prior year as the benchmark. If no comparable USD 233 teacher exists, it uses the standard rate for that position. This replaces the current pay rules for these state schools with a new standard tied to a specific public school district's compensation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates equal pay for school employees at specialized institutions compared to public school teachers, directly supporting educator compensation and equity in education funding.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates equal pay for school employees compared to Olathe district teachers, advancing fair compensation standards for workers in state schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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died · Kansas · Senate Apr 10, 2026

SB 385: Establishing Erin's law to require school districts to provide training and age-appropriate student instruction on the identification and reporting of signs of child sexual abuse.

SB 385, "Erin's Law," requires Kansas school districts to implement mandatory programs starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It mandates annual teacher training on identifying and reporting child sexual abuse, including prevention strategies and resource information. The bill also requires age-appropriate student instruction for all K-12 students on abuse awareness, prevention, and reporting options, with a parent opt-out provision. School districts may use approved resources like the Erin's Law Foundation curriculum to meet these requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates age-appropriate student instruction and teacher training on child sexual abuse prevention, enhancing K-12 safety protocols and student protection within educational programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Teachers

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signed · Kansas · House Apr 9, 2026

HB 2487: Defining teacher and paraprofessional for purposes of eligibility for a scholarship under the Kansas education opportunity scholarship program.

HB 2487 clarifies who qualifies as a "teacher or paraprofessional" for eligibility in Kansas' education scholarship program. It defines these roles as individuals employed in Kansas public or nonpublic schools (pre-K through 12) whose primary duties involve classroom instruction or instructional support, requiring school administrators to certify such employment. This change directly affects students whose parents work in these roles, allowing them to qualify for the scholarship if they meet other criteria (like financial need and being a first-generation student). The bill amends existing law to replace the previous, less specific definition with this precise standard.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies scholarship eligibility for students with teacher/paraprofessional parents, expanding educational access through the Kansas education opportunity program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Student Financial Aid Teachers